Combustion Device Capable of Avoiding Overheat

ABSTRACT

A combustion device includes a burner and a shield. The burner includes a fuel container having a top defining an opening. A wick has a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end is inserted into the fuel container via the opening, and the top end protrudes outside the fuel container and is at a first height in a vertical direction. The shield defines a space, and the burner is disposed within the space. The shield has a first through-hole extending therethrough and communicating the space and the outside of the shield. The first through-hole is at a second height in the vertical direction, and the second height is less than the first height.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a combustion device and, moreparticularly, to a combustion device capable of avoiding overheat.

Taiwan Patent No. 1625493 shows a fire display device. The deviceincludes an accommodation apparatus, a burning apparatus and a fixingapparatus. The accommodation apparatus includes a fuel container, acover, and a heat insulating member. The fuel container includes anaccommodation portion therein and is connected with the cover. A fillinghole and a first positioning slot extend through the cover andcommunicate with the accommodation portion. The heat insulating memberis connected with the cover and the heat insulating member and theaccommodation portion are disposed at different ends of the cover. Asecond positioning slot extends through top and bottom sides of the heatinsulating member and communicates with the first positioning slot. Asecond end of the combustion device is inserted into the accommodationportion through the second positioning slot and the first positioningslot. The fixing apparatus includes a first clamping surface and asecond clamping surface corresponding to each other and sandwiching thecombustion device.

The purpose of the fire display device is to produce a flame that isornamental and has a stable flame pattern for achieving an expectedviewing effect. It is, however, a problem to use the fire display deviceoutdoors as there is no apparatus that can shield the combustion deviceand prevent the flame from flickering or blowing out in the wind. As aresult, the pattern of the flame is not sustained, the flame does nothave an expected viewing effect, and the fuel container is likely to beburned by the flame and gets hot.

The flame, especially, burned in a glass container can obtain an optimumviewing effect. The fuel container of the fire display device is made ofglass material. Further, in order to obtain a better viewing effect, anideal way is to increase the height of the fuel container to an extentthat allows the glass fuel container to surround the flame. When theflame burns, air surrounding the flame is heated by the flame and flowsupward, the loss of the air around the flame creates a low pressureregion, the air near the wall of the fuel container flows toward theflame, the low pressure region is created adjacent to the fuel containerdue to the loss of the air, and only the air that is adjacent to theopening of the fuel container can replenished the fuel container.Nevertheless, the air at the opening of the fuel container has beenheated by the flame. Further, the hot air will flow into the fuelcontainer by convection and causes the fuel container to accumulate heatcontinuously such that the temperature of the fuel container rises andthere is not only a risk that a user gets burned, but also a high riskof flash flame when fuel in the fuel container is heated andaccumulated. Moreover, the backflow of hot air disturbs the air aroundthe flame and causes excessive flame disturbance and reduces thevisibility of the flame. In addition, although the low height of theglass of the fire display device is favorable for heat dissipation, theflame is less shielded from the current of the ambient airflow, and theshape of the flame is not effectively prevented from being affected bythe airflow. Further, when the flame is deflected by the wind pressureof the airflow, the surrounding of the container is likely to be heatedby the flame. However, if the height of the glass is increased toimprove the windproof effect, the phenomenon of hot air recirculationoccurs and the accumulation of heat becomes more serious. In particular,when the scale of combustion is increased, the fuel container and thefuel accumulate heat can easily burn a user and cause the fuel to exceedits flash point so that a flash flame risk occurs.

Moreover, there is a drawback for the existing design. If a useroverfills fuel accidentally, overfilled fuel may cause risk duringburning.

Thus, a need exists for a novel combustion device to mitigate and/orobviate the above disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This need and other problems in the field of combustion devices aresolved by an combustion device including a burner and a shield. Theburner includes a fuel container and a wick. The fuel container has atop defining an opening, and a bottom adapted to rest on a plane. Thewick has a bottom end and a top end opposite to the bottom end. Thebottom end is inserted into the fuel container via the opening. The topend protrudes outside the fuel container and is at a first height in avertical direction from the bottom. The shield defines a space and theburner is disposed within the space. The shield has a first through-holeextending therethrough and communicating the space and the outside ofthe shield. The first through-hole is at a second height in the verticaldirection from the bottom, and the second height is less than the firstheight.

The opening is at a third height in the vertical direction from thebottom, and the second height is less than the third height.

The shield has a bottom portion and a top portion opposite to the bottomportion in the vertical direction. The space extends from the bottomportion to the top portion.

The shield is formed as a monolithic structure having a side wall and abottom wall. The side wall is shaped as a hollow cylinder and extendsfrom the bottom portion to the top portion in the vertical direction.The bottom wall is connected to the side wall and inwardly extends fromthe bottom portion in a horizontal direction. The first through-holepenetrates through the bottom wall.

In an example, the shield has a plurality of second through-holepenetrating through the side wall and communicating the space and theoutside of the shield. Any one of the plurality of second through-holeis at a fourth height in the vertical direction from the bottom, and thefourth height is less than the first height and the third height.

The shield has three support legs disposed at the bottom wall andequally spaced around the first through-hole.

The three support legs are adapted to stand on the plane. The fuelcontainer passes through the first through-hole and is placed on theplane.

The shield may be transparent to light.

Further, the shield may be made of glass.

Illustrative embodiments will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combustion device of a firstembodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the combustion device of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the combustion device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the combustion deviceof FIG. 1 in use and producing a flame, as well as air circulating thecombustion device to allow the combustion device to dissipate heat, witharrows indicating the air.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a combustion device of a secondembodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the combustion device of FIG. 5 andillustrates the combustion device of FIG. 1 in use and producing aflame, as well as air circulating the combustion device to allow thecombustion device to dissipate heat, with arrows indicating the air.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachingsonly; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position,relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the illustrativeembodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the artafter the following teachings have been read and understood. Further,the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specificforce, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise bewithin the skill of the art after the following teachings have been readand understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms“first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, “bottom”, “side”, “end”,“portion”, “section”, “spacing”, “length”, “depth”, “thickness”, andsimilar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these termshave reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it wouldappear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only tofacilitate describing the illustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 show a combustion device of a first embodiment according tothe present invention. The combustion device 10 includes a burner 20 anda shield 30.

The burner 20 includes a fuel container 21 and a wick 22. The fuelcontainer 21 has a top defining an opening 23, and a bottom adapted torest on a plane. The wick 22 has a bottom end 24 and a top end 25opposite to the bottom end 24. The bottom end 24 is inserted into thefuel container 21 via the opening 23. The top end 25 protrudes outsidethe fuel container 21 and is at a first height H1 in a verticaldirection from the bottom. The opening 23 is at a third height H3 in thevertical direction from the bottom.

The shield 30 defines a space 31 and the burner 20 is disposed withinthe space 31. The shield 30 has a bottom portion 32 and a top portion 33opposite to the bottom portion 32 in the vertical direction. The space31 extends from the bottom portion 32 to the top portion 33.

The shield 30 has a first through-hole 34 extending therethrough andcommunicating the space 31 and the outside of the shield 30. The firstthrough-hole 34 is at a second height H2 in the vertical direction fromthe bottom, and the second height H2 is less than the first height H1and the third height H3.

The shield 30 is transparent to light. Thus, the shield 30 may be madeof glass to be formed as a monolithic structure having a side wall 35and a bottom wall 36. The side wall 35 is shaped as a hollow cylinderand extends from the bottom portion 32 to the top portion 33 in thevertical direction.

The bottom wall 36 is connected to the side wall 35 and inwardly extendsfrom the bottom portion 32 in a horizontal direction. The firstthrough-hole 34 penetrates through the bottom wall 36.

The shield 30 has three support legs 37 disposed at the bottom wall 36and equally spaced around the first through-hole 34. The three supportlegs 37 are adapted to stand on the plane, and the fuel container 21passes through the first through-hole 34 and is placed on the plane.

FIG. 4 shows the combustion device 10 in use and producing a flame, aswell as air circulating the combustion device 10 to allow the combustiondevice 10 to dissipate heat, with arrows indicating the air. Thecombustion device 10 achieves the effect of dissipating heat andstabilizing the flame through the above structure.

After the wick 22 is ignited, the high temperature air above the wick 22rises to cause a low pressure area being formed around the wick 22. Inorder to balance the pressure, external air from the outside of theshield 30 will constantly pour towards the low pressure area in thespace 31 via the first through-hole 34, so that the air convection.Thus, the high temperature air above the burner 20 is kept in a risingstate and is not easily reflowed. The air convection between the bottomportion 32 and the top portion 33 maintains a stable flame shape andcauses the combustion device 10 provided with a good visual effect.

Further, the high temperature air heated by the flame is not easilyreflowed to cause the high-temperature air prevented from contacting theshield 30, so that the temperature of the shield 30 is not excessivelyhigh, thereby avoiding the user from being scalded by the shield 30.

Furthermore, the external air enters the space 31 via the firstthrough-hole 34 arranged at a lower position of the burner 20 to causethe air introduced into the shield 30 contacting the burner 20 toprovide continuous heat dissipation for the burner 20. Thus the fuelcontainer 21 can also maintain in a lower temperature.

FIGS. 5-6 show a combustion device in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention, and the same numbers are used tocorrelate similar components of the first embodiment, but bearing aletter a.

The second embodiment includes a plurality of second through-hole 38 apenetrating through the side wall 35 a and communicating the space 31 aand the outside of the shield 30 a to enhanced the air convectioneffect. Any one of the plurality of second through-hole 38 a is at afourth height H4 in the vertical direction from the bottom, and thefourth height H4 is less than the first height H1 and the third heightH3.

The combination of the first through-hole 34 a and the plurality ofsecond through-holes 38 a is only a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The through-holes 34 a and 38 a can be disposed on the sideor the bottom wall of the shield 30 a to achieve the same effect.Further, the through-holes 34 a and 38 a can also be designed to bedifferent sizes or designed to different height positions, the shape ofthe through-holes 34 a and 38 a can also be changed to enhance theaesthetic effect.

Thus since the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein may be embodiedin other specific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by theappended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. A combustion device comprising: a burner including a fuel containerand a wick, wherein the fuel container has a top defining an opening,and a bottom adapted to rest on a plane, wherein the wick has a bottomend and a top end opposite to the bottom end, wherein the bottom end isinserted into the fuel container via the opening, wherein the top endprotrudes outside the fuel container and is at a first height in avertical direction from the bottom; and a shield defining a space andthe burner is disposed within the space, wherein the shield has a firstthrough-hole extending therethrough and communicating the space and theoutside of the shield, wherein the first through-hole is at a secondheight in the vertical direction from the bottom, and wherein the secondheight is less than the first height.
 2. The combustion device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is at a third height in thevertical direction from the bottom; and wherein the second height isless than the third height.
 3. The combustion device as claimed in claim2, wherein the shield has a bottom portion and a top portion opposite tothe bottom portion in the vertical direction, and wherein the spaceextends from the bottom portion to the top portion.
 4. The combustiondevice as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shield is formed as amonolithic structure having a side wall and a bottom wall, wherein theside wall is shaped as a hollow cylinder and extends from the bottomportion to the top portion in the vertical direction, wherein the bottomwall is connected to the side wall and inwardly extends from the bottomportion in a horizontal direction, and wherein the first through-holepenetrates through the bottom wall.
 5. The combustion device as claimedin claim 4, wherein the shield has a plurality of second through-holepenetrating through the side wall and communicating the space and theoutside of the shield, wherein any one of the plurality of secondthrough-hole is at a fourth height in the vertical direction from thebottom, and wherein the fourth height is less than the first height andthe third height.
 6. The combustion device as claimed in claim 4,wherein the shield has three support legs disposed at the bottom walland equally spaced around the first through-hole.
 7. The combustiondevice as claimed in claim 6, wherein the three support legs are adaptedto stand on the plane, and wherein the fuel container passes through thefirst through-hole and is placed on the plane.
 8. The combustion deviceas claimed in claim 5, wherein the shield has three support legsdisposed at the bottom wall and equally spaced around the firstthrough-hole.
 9. The combustion device as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe three support legs are adapted to stand on the plane, and whereinthe fuel container passes through the first through-hole and is placedon the plane.
 10. The combustion device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe shield is transparent to light.
 11. The combustion device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the shield is made of glass.